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Chapter 15

Due to the restaurant renovations, Jack's free time had become severely limited, so he was pleasantly surprised when Janet and Taylor entered "The Captain's Table" late one afternoon. Janet and Jack had talked several times on the phone, but they hadn't been able to see each other since their dinner.

"Janet! Taylor! What a nice surprise."

"Hi," Janet said, giving him a tentative smile as she looked around at the debris. "I hope it's okay that we're in here."

"Oh, sure. Just be careful where you step."

"We weren't busy for once, so I decided to take advantage of it and closed the shop early. I picked up Taylor from her after school care. We decided to go for a walk and found ourselves here."

"I'm happy you did. Let me just clear an area so we can sit and chat."

Jack found a table near the back that was not a part of the work area.

"Can I get you something to drink?"

"No, thanks. We're fine," Janet said, looking to her daughter for confirmation.

Taylor agreed.

"Okay," Jack said, sliding into the booth across from Janet and Taylor. "What's new?"

"Not much," Janet said. "It's been crazy at the flower shop. I'm actually glad I decided to close early today."

She glanced at her daughter and gave her an encouraging smile.

"Taylor has some news she would like to share with you."

"Oh, yeah?" Jack said and smiled at the little girl who was looking shyly at her mother. "Tell me, Taylor. What's your news?"

Taylor looked up at Janet. "You tell him, Mommy."

Janet shook her head and tapped her daughter's nose with the pad of her index finger. "Nope. All the way here you said you were going to tell Jack your news and ask him a question. You have to keep your word."

Janet winked conspiratorially at Jack who wanted someone to tell him what was going on.

"Okay. See," Taylor began, her voice low, "the bigger kids at school are doing a Thanksgiving play. One of the teachers asked me to be the child of one of the pil...pil..."

"Pilgrims," Janet readily supplied.

"Yeah, them," Taylor said, trying not to break eye contact with Jack who was listening intently to her. "So, I'm gonna be in a school play Saturday night. Wanna come see me?"

"Sure," Jack said. "I'd like to see your school play. I bet you'll be the best and cutest child there. Thank you for inviting me."

"You're welcome," Taylor said, pleased with herself for asking and happy Jack had accepted the invitation.

Janet was happy, too.

"Come for dinner before the play," Janet told him. "And then we'll go together as long as you don't mind getting to the school early."

"Not at all. I'm looking forward to it."

"Great," Janet said and smiled.

"Don't forget," Jack said, "that the two of you have to be here next Monday night for the grand opening."

Janet reached across the table and squeezed Jack's hand.

"We wouldn't miss it for anything," she assured him.

"Mommy said I get to stay up late. Oh boy!"

Jack and Janet laughed at Taylor's excitement.

"Well," Janet explained, "it's a special occasion."

"Let's just hope this opening goes better than the Bistro's."

Janet laughed as she recalled how crazy Jack's opening had been with flyers announcing the wrong date and dishes being broken all over the place. It was a wonder he had made any kind of a profit at all. But that was Jack, Janet thought, stealing a glance at him when he turned his head for just a moment to look at the work being done on the other side of the restaurant. He accepted the setbacks and fought that much harder to reach his goal.

"It's too bad Terri and her family can't be here," Janet said.

She avoided mentioning Larry even though he had played a big part in the Bistro's opening. Jack respected the omission and didn't bring up his name.

"I agree. But they're getting ready for your visit. Can you believe next week is Thanksgiving?"

Janet shook her head at how fast time was going.

"When do you leave for L.A.?"

"Wednesday night. We'll be back Sunday afternoon. I wish you were going with us."

"I wish I could go, too," Jack said, how voice wistful.

If Janet only knew how much Jack wanted to spend Thanksgiving with them. But it just wasn't possible.

"Unfortunately, the timing's all wrong."

Jack looked around at the work that still needed to be done.

"I guess I could've pushed back the opening until after the holiday, but I'd like to get some business for the Christmas season, if I can."

"I'm sure you will," Janet said. "I know this place will be fabulous."

"Thanks, Janet," Jack said sincerely. "I really appreciate your support."

"No problem. Hey, let me know if you need any help moving into your apartment."

"Okay. I will. I'm going to do that in two weeks. I'll be moving in just in time to decorate for Christmas. This all feels a bit weird."

"Once the restaurant opens, you won't have time to think about anything else."

"I'm afraid you're right, so I'd better enjoy my time with you on Saturday," he said, including Taylor in his comment, but mostly directing it towards Janet.

Lately, he'd begun to realize that every time he had an opportunity to be around Janet, saying good-bye became more and more difficult. And his day did not feel complete when he didn't get to talk to her on the phone. Sitting there, in the middle of the chaos, he felt as though the three of them could be a family.

Would the time ever be right to say that to Janet? And if the timing were right, would he have the courage to tell her how he felt?